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Anyone Tried New Antidepressants??

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Posted 9/28/2018 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Friends,

I have struggled with depression since I was about 13, some 47 years ago. I've tried a multitude of antidepressants over the years, nothing has ever really made a dent in my depression. The 'good times' I've had have been when I managed to get busy enough to focus on other things, but the gray cloud has never really left the background. I've tried multiple therapists, individual and group therapy, other kinds of self-help groups, mindfulness, gratitude lists, charity work, and most everything anyone has suggested or can think of.

With the exception of ECT, that I won't do. And the exception of TMS, that's been too costly and I don't see much evidence of success with it.

I see there are some newer antidepressants available - vilazodone (Viibryd) in 2011; levomilnacipran (Fetzima) in 2013; and vortioxetine (Trintellix; formerly called Brintellix, but renamed to avoid confusion with the blood-thinning medication Brilinta) in 2013.

I'm wondering if anyone here (with a past similar to mine) has tried any of these three new medications, and if so, what kind of results have you found?

Thanks in advance.
Posted 9/28/2018 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I have not.

However, 2 sound familiar so I am sure someone will chime in on your post with some information.

Peace
Trina
Posted 9/29/2018 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hello GreenBeans I have been suffering from depression since June 2013.During this period I have tried eighteen (18) different meds.Some worked for awhile and some did not.Some had terrible side effects . I did things by the book and I did not stop them after 4-5 days when the side effects were bad. You can imagine the time frame of weaning off one med to start another for all those meds.Anyways last fall I decided ( without talking to my Doctor ) to wean off Zoloft and Wellbutrin (taken together ).It took about six weeks and no more depression pills.Did I feel better ? No, I felt worse but ,I was no longer was a Zombie during the daytime .The depression was there all the time,sad,feeling alone,wanting to be alone,useless,wondering why I was living,etc,etc.I was off the meds for five months and it was hard to live in that black hole .I have not posted on this forum for many years but I checked it out every day so I did not feel alone.There is always someone who is suffering more than me.After five months I went to a different clinic and an N.P. suggested that I try Trintellix. He said that Trintellix worked really well on people who were hard to medicate.I had never heard of it so I tried it out.It is the only med that I felt kick in after only 6-7 days.All the others took weeks and months.I ve been taking 10 mgs a day since May and I feel good and I am sleeping much better.I am not telling any of you to do what I did and my doctor wanted to slap my hand because I did not consult with him before I quit the meds. I than asked him how come an N.P. was able to give me my life back and he (with about 30 years experience ) was never able to.Do not despair,there is a solution to your depression.
Posted 9/30/2018 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, "Perfect Time" -

I've fought my way out of the black hole hundreds of times over the years, with and without medication, but no med ever seems to help in the long run. Every time I fall in the hole these days it is deeper and blacker. I found myself thinking about dangerous things I've never considered before in the last few days.

I will read more about the Trintellix and see if anyone around here is prescribing it. Thanks for the suggestion and the feedback.
Posted 10/8/2018 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
It's frustrating that antidepressants involve so much guesswork, not to mention the possibility of making it worse instead of better (which is what happened to me with everything the doctor prescribed). Still, if any of the new ones worked for you when all others failed, that would be valuable (and potentially life-changing) to know.
Posted 10/12/2018 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
I might have to look into some of the ones mentioned here. the one I have is crap at doing anything. or at least it feels that way. for all I know it might be helping just enough that if I stop it'll be noticable
Posted 10/12/2018 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
What are you currently taking MarianoGilmore? I took five or six different kinds before I found what worked for me. I am now taking Pristiq. I have been on this one for about 8 years. Before that I was on Effexor for about 15 or more years. I can't remember now. But these are in the snri kinds. They work for me much better than ssris. The ssri's are like Prozac, paxil, Zoloft and so on. I guess the snri's have an anti anxiety property to them. Which really helps.

I hope your med works better. Sometimes the doctor needs to bump it up a bit. That may be what you need or a different kind altogether.

Oh, and welcome to the forum. I am glad you joined us. I hope the rest of your day is awesome!

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 10/13/2018 10:23 AM (GMT 0)
taking sertraline a ssri thing.

unfortueally I have to wait to visit the doctor for either of those options. this sudden and unexpected need to move from our home as put a dent in my getting to the doctor.

i like how you signed of your post karen. really needed that virtual hug.

virtual hugs, MG
Posted 10/13/2018 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry you have to wait on a doctor. I hope you find one soon. And I hope you have enough medication until you do. It is no fun when you don't know what is going to happen next.

I worry about my doctor retiring. And my psychologist. But I guess I have to take it one day at a time. Hope for the best.

I hope you have a nice day today. Cold here. Snowed last night but it didn't stick.

Hugs again,

Karen...
Posted 10/16/2018 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Apropros time for this thread for me. I've been depressed for about 30 years. Fortunately, I've had mostly positive results from medication. I was initially on Nardil because I was diagnosed with what was called atypical depression (ate too much, slept too much) and that was the med of choice for that. It worked quite well for me. I moved to Luvox when I started with a new therapist, and I was on that for many years, probably 10 or so, then a dozen years or so on Effexor, which worked very well for me. The one thing I could not fix was my complete and utter lack of any energy. My general doc, about seven years ago, referred me for a psych consult and she added Welbutrin to the Effexor and, my goodness, I HAD ENERGY without being hyped up. It was ahhhhhhhhhhhhh-mazing.

Well, last year my psych (same one that put me on Welbutrin) changed my Effexor to Cymbalta because I came into the appointment crying and just not doing well, and I've not done well with that. I got off that last week because I wasn't doing well for the past year. I am seeing yet again another psychiatrist (because the last one retired), and he feels like I might have executive dysfunction (which I absolutely do) and possibly ADD because of the complete mess I've made of my life and my obligations, like cleaning my house, weeding my garden, paying my taxes and doing my returns, heck, even doing the billing for my own business!!! I feel so much shame about how my house is a disaster, and now I've made my business a disaster as well. I've been on the Adderall now for three days, and I realize I need to give it time, but I'm feeling alternately hyped up or sleepy. Not sure that I do have ADD, I just have a complete inability to get myself off my ass. And here I am, doing this, posting on a website, when I HAVE WORK TO DO. So, again, executive dysfunction. I'm just ready to scream. And as much as the Cymbalta didn't help me enough, it took the edge off. So here I sit, and I'm crying again because I'm such a freaking mess.

I gotta get to work.
Posted 10/16/2018 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking Adderall for a few years. Couldn't function without it. I hope it works for you.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 10/20/2018 7:44 AM (GMT 0)
I am completely a mess.

I cannot simply function and work anymore .

I am studying and it’s a complete disaster.

My depression and anxiety spells make me scared now.
Posted 10/20/2018 8:50 AM (GMT 0)
Cilly, I am sorry to hear this. Are you taking anything for your depression and anxiety? I know how it feels not to be able to work. It is not a good feeling. Have you seen your doctor lately? Please talk to somebody. Then let us know how it is going. I urge you to talk to your doc or therapist. If you haven't already.

Maybe you can get some disability. Check into it.

Hope things get better soon...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 10/21/2018 10:34 PM (GMT 0)

getting by said...
I have been taking Adderall for a few years. Couldn't function without it. I hope it works for you.

Hugs, Karen...

Thanks, Karen. I'm just so confused by all this. And my new psychiatrist seems equally confused. I can be thankful I don't have anxiety. But now my new doc is saying it could be ADD, it could be ADD + depession, it could be bipolar -- I'm just so confused. And he's out of the country so I can't really do anything about it.

The Adderall makes me so irritable. I'm yelling at my dogs, short-tempered. I'm fighting with people on line, angry. I'm feeling weird feelings, almost like my ears are plugged (but I can hear okay) and a little dizzy. I feel like a hopeless case.

Tell me, please, Karen, how the Adderall helps you, if you don't mind. I'm not convinced that the lack of motivation, the complete mess I've made of my house, my business, and my inability to feel anything beyond shame about it enough that I get up and fix it isn't standard garden-variety depression rather than ADD.

I'm just a mess. I hate it.
Posted 10/21/2018 10:38 PM (GMT 0)

cilly said...
I am completely a mess.

I cannot simply function and work anymore .

I am studying and it’s a complete disaster.

My depression and anxiety spells make me scared now.

--------------------------

I'm so sorry that you are feeling this way, Cilly. Having work is good for most people, myself included. When I have too much time on my hands, I tend to get work my way deeper and deeper into the abyss. I worry about retiring for that reason.

What are you studying? Why do you think it's a complete disaster? Maybe if you explain, someone here can offer some tips to make it work better for you, I don't know.

I just feel so bad for you.
Posted 10/22/2018 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
If you are add or adhd, Adderall (I am told) doesn't give you a stimulant effect. For me it gives me the ability to function during the day. Energy I guess I would say. If it makes you irritable, maybe it is too strong. What mg are you taking? Is it pill or capsule? I went on the capsules because of a shortage scare back in 2012. The capsules last longer but you can't take a half of a dose. If you are taking the pills, you could break one in half and see what happens.

When I was taking Wellbutrin it made me a little nervous and gave me insomnia, but it does give you energy. Maybe that would be a better fit. Or just to try. I hope you find what works good for you. Have you tried walking? It gives you a little energy plus relaxes you at the same time. Kind of a win/win situation.

Take care Mitz…

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 10/23/2018 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Karen.

Welbutrin was an absolute MIRACLE for me. The only thing that has worked for my overwhelming fatigue.

My new psychiatrist took me off Cymbalta and had me try Adderall, but I'm not convinced that I have ADD as the cause of my fatigue. The Adderall makes me shaky, and yet at times it makes me sleepy. It makes me incredibly irritable. My 87 year old mother was staying with me this weekend, and yesterday we watched a football game, and I was just ridiculous in how angry I got at my team. I don't even care, and yet it was criticism after criticism from me. The flip side of my irritability is being so weepy, walking my dogs in the early morning darkness, alternately sobbing and being short-tempered over things that don't matter.

I've been advised to go back on my Cymbalta, at least a half dose, and stop the Adderall until my psychiatrist gets back to the US and I can see him again. The war rages on. Hope I can win a few battles soon.
Posted 10/23/2018 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm the original poster. I wonder if we can please get back to discussing the topic I asked about??

Has anyone tried any of these new antidepressants? Vilazodone (Viibryd) came out in 2011; Levomilnacipran (Fetzima) came out in 2013; and Vortioxetine (Trintellix; formerly called Brintellix, but renamed to avoid confusion with the blood-thinning medication Brilinta) in 2013.

Anyone tried any of these three new medications, and if so, what kind of results have you found?
Posted 10/23/2018 12:39 PM (GMT 0)

GreenBeans said...
Hi, I'm the original poster. I wonder if we can please get back to discussing the topic I asked about??

Has anyone tried any of these new antidepressants? Vilazodone (Viibryd) came out in 2011; Levomilnacipran (Fetzima) came out in 2013; and Vortioxetine (Trintellix; formerly called Brintellix, but renamed to avoid confusion with the blood-thinning medication Brilinta) in 2013.

Anyone tried any of these three new medications, and if so, what kind of results have you found?


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I'm sorry I pulled us off topic. I have not tried any of those, Geens Beans. I hope you find something that works for you. I'm in the same boat and sinking fast from a med change that took me in the wrong direction.
Posted 10/23/2018 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
What is wrong with going a little off topic GreenBean? I think it is nice that people are posting at all as slow as it has been.
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